Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, P. R. China.
National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
J Food Biochem. 2022 Aug;46(8):e14189. doi: 10.1111/jfbc.14189. Epub 2022 Apr 26.
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a green tea catechin, has gained the attention of current study due to its excellent health-promoting effects. It possesses anti-obesity, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory activities, and is under extensive investigation in functional foods for improvement. It is susceptible to lower stability, lesser bioavailability, and lower absorption rate due to various environmental, processing, formulations, and gastrointestinal conditions of the human body. Therefore, it is the foremost concern for the researchers to enhance its bioactivity and make it the most suitable therapeutic compound for its clinical applications. In the current review, factors affecting the bioavailability of EGCG and the possible strategies to overcome these issues are reviewed and discussed. This review summarizes structural modifications and delivery through nanoparticle-based approaches including nano-emulsions, encapsulations, and silica-based nanoparticles for effective use of EGCG in functional foods. Moreover, recent advances to enhance EGCG therapeutic efficacy by specifically targeting its molecules to increase its bioavailability and stability are also described. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The main green tea constituent EGCG possesses several health-promoting effects making EGCG a potential therapeutic compound to cure ailments. However, its low stability and bioavailability render its uses in many disorders. Synthesizing EGCG prodrugs by structural modifications helps against its low bioavailability and stability by overcoming premature degradation and lower absorption rate. This review paper summarizes various strategies that benefit EGCG under different physiological conditions. The esterification, nanoparticle approaches, silica-based EGCG-NPs, and EGCG formulations serve as ideal EGCG modification strategies to deliver superior concentrations with lesser toxicity for its efficient penetration and absorption across cells both in vitro and in vivo. As a result of EGCG modifications, its bioactivities would be highly improved at lower doses. The protected or modified EGCG molecule would have enhanced potential effects and stability that would contribute to the clinical applications and expand its use in various food and cosmetic industries.
没食子酸表没食子儿茶精（EGCG）是一种绿茶儿茶素，由于其具有出色的促进健康的作用，因此引起了当前研究的关注。它具有抗肥胖，抗菌，抗癌，抗炎作用，并且在功能性食品的改善方面正在广泛研究。由于人体的各种环境，加工，配方和胃肠道条件，它的稳定性较低，生物利用度较低，吸收率也较低。因此，研究人员最关心的是提高其生物活性，并使其成为最适合其临床应用的治疗化合物。在当前的综述中，综述了影响 EGCG 生物利用度的因素以及克服这些问题的可能策略。本综述总结了通过纳米颗粒为基础的方法（包括纳米乳液，包封和基于硅的纳米颗粒）进行结构修饰和传递，以有效利用功能性食品中的 EGCG。此外，还描述了通过专门针对其分子来提高 EGCG 治疗功效的最新进展，以提高其生物利用度和稳定性。
主要的绿茶成分 EGCG 具有多种促进健康的作用，使 EGCG 成为治疗疾病的潜在治疗化合物。但是，其低稳定性和生物利用度限制了其在许多疾病中的应用。通过结构修饰合成 EGCG 前药有助于克服其生物利用度和稳定性差的问题，从而避免过早降解和吸收速率降低。本文综述了在不同生理条件下对 EGCG 有益的各种策略。酯化，纳米颗粒方法，基于硅的 EGCG-NPs 和 EGCG 制剂可作为理想的 EGCG 修饰策略，可在体外和体内以较低的毒性实现更优的浓度，并提高其穿透和吸收效率。通过 EGCG 修饰，可以在较低剂量下大大提高其生物活性。受保护或修饰的 EGCG 分子将具有增强的潜在作用和稳定性，这将有助于其临床应用，并扩大其在各种食品和化妆品行业的应用。
